Friendship can make us blind. We can easily be tempted to become like the company we keep.

"Word Pictures" for Our Imagination

Free Printable Devotional Sheets Monday, July 21st

Today's Daily Verse is found in Proverbs 22.24-25

"Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul."        - NLT version

The danger of hanging around angry people...

We are known by the company we keep

1 Corinthians 15.33 "Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character." AMP version

Here is the problem -

• When we are in a friendship, we let down our guard, failing to understand that "sin is contagious."
• Therefore is is important to consider very carefully the question of having an intimate relationship with anyone who displays anger, wrath or fury.
• When the friendship is new, restraint is evident, but it wears down over time and becomes an acceptable standard of behavior
• We become contaminated by their hasty ways and foul language
• Forget it - if you think you will change their behavior -
  
• The truth is - they change us - to become like them...
  

We should not have friendships or associations with those who have anger or malice toward others - lest we learn their ways, do the same things, and ensnare our own soul...

If they have a destructive "fire" burning inside of them...one fire kindles another

Where we make our mistake...

Psalms 106.35-36

"Instead, they mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs. They worshiped their idols, which led to their downfall."

• In wanting to get along, we compromise
• we become ensnared because it is hard to resist a "friend"

Evil ways are much sooner learned than good manners. We learn anger easier than we learn meekness. We spread disease, rather than health...

Make no friendship with an angry man!

The price of toxic friendships...

• toxic friendships can be deadly
• real friends stand up for one another
• real friends tell you when you are wrong and need to make changes
• real friends stick with you as those changes and adjustments are made
• real friends do not manipulate
  

The problem is -

• When we become aware that the friendship is indeed "toxic" - how do we break the friendship off...
• The "bond" is there
• to break the bond opens the door to misery and loneliness
• So we begin to detach...by starting to spend time with other friends whom I have neglected to be in this toxic relationship
• tell the toxic friend how you feel and let it die a natural death
• forgive
• move on!
• leave the emotional baggage behind

What does a good friend look like?

Ruth Ruth 1:1-22 - ‘who is loyal even when in times of difficulty. When Naomi told Ruth to stay behind, Ruth said these words, “Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay”.’

Jonathan 1 Samuel 20:1-42 -who risks his life for a friend. He helped save his friend, David’s life when he heard that his father King Saul wanted to kill him. He told David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it for you.”‘

Paul 1 Corinthians 4:14-6:20 – ‘a great man who helps friends grow in their faith, by encouraging them and being bold enough to correct them.’

Jesus What a friend we have in JESUS!! The epitome of a true friend. ‘Compassionate, encouraging, patient, loyal, understanding, loving’. To be a good friend, let us “clothe” ourselves with the things of God Colossians 3:12-17

What does a bad friend look like...

Pharaoh’s Cupbearer Genesis 40:1-23 Joseph promised him that he would soon be released from prison, but once the cupbearer went out from jail, he forgot all about Joseph. He does not show any appreciation to his friend.

Ahithopel 2 Samuel 15:12-17:23 King David’s betrayer, he befriends an enemy who wanted to overthrow the kingdom. He was also ‘David’s trusted counselor, but he gives lousy advice and spread rumors about the king’.

Judas Matthew 26:15-17, 25 Luke 22:47-48  who acts like a friend but puts his own self-interests above everything else.

Let us choose our friends wisely!

Let's Get Started...

See you tomorrow...

In the meantime:

Have you called or emailed someone to invite them to join us in our daily study in Proverbs? It would be great if you did that today! Thanks.